The Caldwell County Fire Marshal's office says a smoke detector prevented a worse disaster from occurring during a house fire in the Oak Hill Community in Caldwell County Wednesday morning.

Kevin Brown, Caldwell County Deputy Fire Marshal, says the fire was reported at the wooden farmhouse, owned by Monica Hollar, on the 5400 block of Sheriff's Road in Lenoir, at 3:20 a.m., according to a news release from the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office.

Brown says that Hollar told him that the smoke detector woke her up and she found flames coming from the wall around her wood stove which was in the dining room.

Hollar reportedly attempted to put out the fire herself with a fire extinguisher, but couldn't. She then got her four-year-old and two-year-old son and daughter out of the house and called 911. Brown says all three members of the family are being treated for smoke inhalation.

Brown says the fire started in the pipe coming from the wood stove and flames spread into the walls of the house, which was completed destroyed. The American Red Cross is assisting the family.

Responding to the fire in addition to the Caldwell County Fire Marshal's office was Little River Fire Department, Valmead Fire Department, Sawmills Fire Department with Hudson and Grace Chapel Fire Departments on standby.